team – Success in Simulation and Schedulinghttps://www.simio.com/blog
Idea exchange on how to make simulation and scheduling projects more successful.Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:34:44 +0000en-US
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1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.2.3https://www.simio.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/cropped-logo-square-schneider-32x32.pngteam – Success in Simulation and Schedulinghttps://www.simio.com/blog
3232Making the Datehttps://www.simio.com/blog/2008/06/30/making-the-date-avoiding-the-turnoffs-to-failure/
https://www.simio.com/blog/2008/06/30/making-the-date-avoiding-the-turnoffs-to-failure/#respondMon, 30 Jun 2008 18:34:44 +0000https://www.simio.com/blog/2008/06/30/making-the-date-avoiding-the-turnoffs-to-failure/Continue reading →]]>It is rarely pleasant to miss a deadline, and sometimes it can be downright career-limiting. Last week, we talked about some problems that contribute to missed project dates. Now let’s explore some solutions.

Step 1 – Objectives and Specifications

We have already covered the importance of project objectives and specifications. Of course setting those objectives requires knowing your stakeholders and getting their involvement. In this and other articles I use the term stakeholders to represent the set of people who care about this project. It could be your customers, your manager, people who work in the systems being modeled, or others.

Step 2 – Creating a Project Plan

When creating a project plan, two adages come to mind.

“Expect the Best; Plan for the Worst”

I think it is fine to be an optimist and hope, maybe even expect, that things will go well. But I don’t count on it. I don’t base my plan on optimistic assumptions. I like to start with what seems to be a reasonable estimate, then double it to account for all the things that I know will go wrong. This may seem like “padding” but the objective is to determine an achievable schedule. I have seldom, if ever, found what seems up front to be a “reasonable” schedule to actually be achievable in the end due to the large number of unknowns in a typical project.

Of course you can always spend more time up front studying the problem to reduce the risk to an acceptable level and possibly improve the accuracy of your estimates. But by that time the project has often become irrelevant because the decisions have already been made. Time estimates are always a guess and always wrong, so find a method that works for you and move on.

“Under Promise, Over Deliver”

To me this means be conservative. I try to avoid over-committing and, when possible, avoid sharing my optimistic intentions. For example, while I may have every expectation of creating a compelling 3D animation, I might only guarantee 2D animation or simple 3D animation. Or while I might intend to model some secondary applications so that I might explore some potential system improvements, I would not guarantee that in the project specifications.

In fact, my project specifications usually include three categories:
• Guaranteed Deliverables – No matter what happens, the project is not considered done without them.
• Likely Deliverables – I intend to complete these, but if things go poorly, they may be cut. Often the stakeholders do not even know this list exists, depending on their tolerance for flexibility.
• Wish List – In the rare instance when the project goes exceptionally well, I implement tasks from this list. This list never makes it to a public project plan.

This approach provides me some flexibility to:
a) Avoid disappointing the stakeholders in case the project goes poorly, and
b) Retain the opportunity to delight the stakeholders if the project goes well.

What Comes Next?
These first two steps are just the start of a project. In future articles I will discuss prioritization, agility, communication and many other topics that contribute to making the date and making a successful project.

]]>https://www.simio.com/blog/2008/06/30/making-the-date-avoiding-the-turnoffs-to-failure/feed/0The Magic Formula for Successhttps://www.simio.com/blog/2008/05/05/the-magic-formula-for-success-2/
https://www.simio.com/blog/2008/05/05/the-magic-formula-for-success-2/#commentsMon, 05 May 2008 22:00:45 +0000https://www.simio.com/blog/2008/05/07/the-magic-formula-for-success/Continue reading →]]>Many people new to simulation rightfully inquire how they can be successful. This first article will identify some of the issues associated with simulation projects. Later articles will explore these and other issues in greater detail.

So, to get started, here are five of the more important issues that should be considered.

Project Objectives – “Model this” is not a good objective. “Prove this” is not much better. A clear objective is essential to a meaningful project. Hopefully it would include the phrases “evaluate …” and “as measured by …”.

Know Yourself – What are your strengths and weaknesses? How about those of any other team members who will be involved? Be honest. Then come up with a plan to capitalize on the strengths and overcome the weaknesses.

Domain, Tool & Process Knowledge – It is not enough to be proficient in a simulation tool. Nor is it enough to have comprehensive domain knowledge of what is being modeled. While having project participants with both of those skills is a prerequisite to success, you also need to know how to conduct a simulation project and deliver validated, valuable results.

Project Planning and Management – A project that produces results after the decision is made has little value. And an over budget project may be cancelled before completion. You must pay appropriate attention to completion dates and project costs.

Team/Reviews – Even though “No man is an island”, too often simulation projects are conducted by a single person with little or no team interaction. Find a way to get others involved.

Look for five more success factors next time. Future articles will discuss these and others in more detail.?